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. Shutter WOrker. No. 239,897. Patented April 5,1881.

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TJWAGNBRL Shutter Worker 7 I No. 239,897. Patented Apr il 5,.l88l.

i" i T 9\ UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

THEODORE WAGNER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SHUTTER-Z-WORKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,897, dated April 5, 1881. I Application filed February 15, 1881. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE WAGNER, of San Francisco,in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vindow- Blinds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accom-' of one of the rollers with its panying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure l isan inside view of a window the blinds or shutters of which are fitted with my appliance for operating them. Fig. 2 is a vertical section laid through line am in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of the top or bottom rails, with one of the grooved rollers. Fig. 4: is a perspective view box or casing detached from the blind or shutter. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the middle of one side of the window-casing, with its appropriate blind, representing a modified construction of the operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is an inside view of so much of the shutter as is necessary to illustrate the construction and operation of the modified device, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section laid through line'y y in Fig. 5

5 cogged bar or ing the Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to devices or appliances for operating-that is, opening or closing-outside window blinds or shutters from the inside without the necessity of raiswindow-sash; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts of an improved mechanism for effecting that end,

0 substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to Sheet 1 of the annexed two sheets of drawings, the letter A represents the window-casing, and B B the outside blinds or shutters,'each of which is provided with a rack-bar, C, on the inside, or the side facing the window. The top and bottom rails of each of the blinds is recessed or countersunk near both ends to receive the roller-boxes D with their rollers E, each roller being made with a circumferential V-shaped groove, andthe projecting ends of its box being cast of a corresponding shape, as shown at a in Fig. 4, with laterally-projecting parallel flanges b b, which are sunk into the shutterrail flush with its top or bottom, as the case may be, the box being fastened by screws inserted through perforated enlargements c c at opposite ends of the box.

The top and bottom rollers, E, travel upon V-shaped rails F, the groove in the roller being out rather deeper than the rise of the rail, so that the roller will ride with its beveled flanges upon the tapering or inclined sides of the rail, the top or ridge of which does not touch the bottom of the roller-groove, but leaves an open space as the roller travels over the rail, as indicated by the letter cl in Fig. 3. This not only prevents the roller from being wedged and from binding upon the rail, but it prevents all'lateral play of the roller, both flanges of which will always bear upon the inclined sides of the rail.

To prevent displacement of the top and bottom roller rails through warping of the windowsills, or from other causes, I placepacking disks or strips of rubber or other elastic material between the rails and their respective sills, as shown at G in Fig. 3, leaving open spaces between the pieoes'of packing, for the purpose of affording an outlet for any water that may find its way back of and underneath (or above) the rails.

Through each of the sides or jambs of the window-casing I insert a short shaft, H, which is journaled in suitable boxes let into the wood of the casing, and is provided with a crank, I, at itsinner, and a pinion, K, at its outer, end. The pinion K meshes with the rack-bar C of its appropriate blind, and it follows that by turning crank I to one side or the other the shutter may be worked either forward or back to shut or open it, as desired.

The top and bottom rails are provided with stops at their outer ends, and also with central or middle stops, to prevent the blinds from traveling too far in either direction.

If desired, the outside of the house may be provided with cases on both sides of the window, into the top and bottom of which the ends of the top and bottom rails are extended,

or closed-and to prevent rattling, I employ a bolt, L, on each side of the window, the screwthreaded inner end of which works in a threaded box sunk into the jamb or casing, while the outer end projects out through the wall in a line with and opposite to or facing the blind bottom rails. There is one of these threaded rods L on each side of the window, each having an ornamental knobor handle, L, at its inner end for operating it. These knobs also serve the purposes of holders or hangers for the curtain-bands when the curtains are drawn aside. Ifdesired, the bottom rails of the blinds may be provided with two or more recesses in a line with the projecting outer ends of the bolts L, into which the points or ends of said boltsare inserted when the handles are turned, and which will absolutelyprevent the shutters, when thus locked or fastened,from being moved to either side. Under ordinary circumstances, however, this will not be found necessary, as the bolts will bind the blinds with sufficient firmness simply by hearing against the blindrails.

On Sheet 2 of the annexeddrawings I have shown a modified form of my improvement, by substituting a wire cord and operating drum or 'pulley for the rack-bar and pinion mechanism.

Mis the wire cord, the ends of which are fastened in a drum, N, the shaft 0 of which is journaled in boxes suitably locatedin the window frame or casin g, and which may be turned to either side by means of the crank- O. The cord M is carried around the sheaves P P and fastened in a clamp, Q, which is secured in the blind. The rails, grooved rollers, and locking-bolts do not differ in construction from the same devices as represented on Sheet 1.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The window frame or casing A, constructed with the V-shaped top and bottom rails, F, extended on both sides of the window, and provided with elastic packing disks or pads, G, arranged with intervening open spaces, in combination with the sliding blinds B, the rollers E of which are grooved to a greater depth than the rise of the rail-ridge on which they travel, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE WAGNER.

Witnesses:

AUGUST PETERSON, J AMES H. MANDEVILLE. 

